Western’s Allen named first-team All-American

For anyone looking to buy a graduation gift for Western Washington University senior John Allen, here’s a suggestion.

Get him a trophy case.

The postseason honors continue to pile up for the Vikings’ standout guard. On Tuesday, the school announced Allen has been named a first-team Division II All-American by the Basketball Times.

It is the third All-America selection for Allen, a graduate of Mountlake Terrace High School. Earlier he was a first-team Division II Bulletin and a third-team Daktronics choice. Allen also received Daktronics West Region and Great Northwest Athletic Conference player-of-the-year honors.

Allen led Western (31-3) to its second straight NCAA II West Regional championship and a spot in the semifinals of the Division II national tournament. WWU’s 31 victories tied the school record.

Allen led the Vikings in scoring (17.1 per game), assists (4.1) and 3-point field goals (69). He finished his career at Western with 1,480 career points, good for seventh on the school’s all-time scoring list. Allen, who began his college career at Washington State, played just three seasons at Western. His point total is the highest of any player who did not play four seasons at the Bellingham school, WWU officials said.

Allen also ranks 12th in school history in assists (348) and 14th in steals (157). His career free-throw percentage of 89.4 (244-of-273) is a school record.

Allen was joined on the Basketball Times first team by seniors Mitchel Anderson of Cal-Pomona, Ali Haidar of Michigan Tech, Alex Falk of West Liberty (W.Va.) and Will McNeill of Washburn (Kan.).